Eggs, chocolate bunnies, baskets, jelly beans all come to mind when we hear Easter. We think about Spring, bringing out spring clothing, cutting the grass, baseball season, spring break, and that first family trip of the year. There are so many distractions during the week leading up to Easter. For years it was the same for me. I didn’t put much thought into Passion Week, or Holy Week. Passion week begins on Palm Sunday and goes through the following Sunday, Resurrection Sunday, otherwise known as Easter Sunday. For years I would glance at the calendar and notice Palm Sunday, Good Friday, and Easter, only to forget about them just as quickly. The approaching Spring weather, and getting through a busy workday on Easter consumed my thoughts. I was living an ungodly, secular, selfish, man-centered life. I did not know the Miracle at the Cross.
The Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ is the greatest event in history. The culminating event in divine redemption (deliverance of Christians from sin). This event is the source of eternal life for all who believe, the cornerstone for all of Holy Scripture. The God-breathed Holy Word of God given to us in Scripture centers around the Miracle at the Cross. The Old Testament speaks of the Redeemer to come. The Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) tell of the Redeemer among us. The rest of the New Testament tells of the Redeemer to return. Our Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God the Father, is that Redeemer. What occurred during those 3 days, Friday to Resurrection Sunday, is the most powerful, momentous, gracious act of love from God to a sinful, fallen world.
All 4 Gospels record that Jesus died Friday on the cross, was buried in a sealed tomb that same Friday afternoon, and 3 days later, on Sunday morning, He arose from the dead. Jesus said, “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after He is killed, He will rise three days later” (Mark 9:31). Jesus was buried Friday afternoon (Day 1), all day Saturday (Day 2), and arose from the tomb on Sunday morning (Day 3).
Judgement occurred at the Cross. Judgement of sinful man. Our Lord Jesus Christ bore the full wrath of God the Father at the Cross. Why? So that we can be declared righteous in the eyes of God upon our belief in our Lord Jesus Christ. He took the punishment for our sins in order for us to be justified before God. Jesus Christ was the perfect atonement, substitute, sacrifice so that sinful man could be reconciled with a Holy, Just, Righteous God. Peter said about Jesus, “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree; so that, having died to sins, we might live for righteousness” (1 Peter 2:24). Our Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins. The most selfless act in history. “For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that He might bring you to God” (1 Peter 3:18). Christ was righteous, and died for all who are unrighteous so that we may believe and be justified in front of God. “There is no one righteous, not even one” (Romans 3:10).
Eternal life for all who believe was given at the cross. Our Lord gave His life for our eternal life in His Heavenly Kingdom. At the cross, “Jesus called out with a loud voice, ‘Father, into your hands I entrust my spirit.’ Saying this, He breathed his last” (Luke 23:46). Jesus willingly and selflessly “yielded up His Spirit” (Matt. 27:50). He let go of His spirit to God the Father for us. Jesus said, “Everything is possible for the one who believes” (Mark 9:23). That everything is not worldly in nature, but divine. It is heavenly, eternal life with God. “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 John 2:15).
Our Lord Jesus Christ breathed His last breath on the cross. “It is finished” (John 19:30). So much of our lives is spent chasing, searching, stressing. Is it ever finished? Do we ever stop these pursuits? Are we ever satisfied? Our Lord Jesus Christ did finish and accomplish His earthly mission. God was satisfied with the atonement of Jesus, His Son, the perfect sacrifice for imperfect, wretched sinners. Jesus bore the wrath of our sins. “We have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). Jesus bore this wrath of God, on the cross, so that through faith in Him, we have peace with God. That is nothing short of a Divine Miracle. A miracle from our Lord Jesus Christ at the Cross.
Jason Pauley
